Lien & Foreclosure Information

Delinquent Real Estate Taxes, Notices, Liens & Foreclosures

When a taxpayer fails to pay the entire real estate tax obligation within twelve months after commitment, by law, the tax collector will record a lien at the Hancock County registry of Deeds.

Before the lien is recorded, the taxpayer will receive a 30-Day Notice of Demand (A $3 demand fee and certified mailing fees are added to the account). This notice conveys the collector's intention to place a lien and gives the taxpayer a 30-day grace period to pay the tax without further interest accruing.

Tax Lien Certificate

If the tax is left unpaid, within 10 days after the end of the 30-day period, the tax collector will record a tax lien certificate at the Hancock County Registry of Deeds. A copy of the lien is given to the town treasurer, to each record holder of mortgage on the real estate, and to any unassessed record of owner. (A $48 processing fee is added to the account.) The taxpayer has an 18-month period in which to redeem the property. The Treasurer will then record a discharge of that lien upon payment.

Foreclosure

If the obligation is left unpaid, 30 to 45 days prior to the end of the redemption period the treasurer will notify, by certified returned receipt mail, the person named on the tax lien, each mortgage holder, and any unassessed owner(s) of the impending automatic foreclosure.

If the obligation is paid in full (and all other taxes are current), a discharge of mortgage will be recorded at the Hancock County Registry of Deeds, releasing that lien.

Foreclosure Dates

Dates to note:

2015 foreclosed on December 28, 2017

2016 unpaid taxes were placed on lien, June 27, 2017 and will automatically foreclose on December 29, 2018

2017 unpaid taxes were placed on lien, June 27, 2018 and will automatically foreclose on December 27, 2019

Payment Order

Payments are applied in the following order, to the oldest outstanding balances first: Interest, accrued interest, lien fees, and principal.

Tax Club Payment Plan

You may sign up for the town's Tax Club Payment Plan to pay your taxes monthly. Payments without interest are spread over the 12-month period July through June. Please contact the tax collector's office for more information regarding this plan, at 207-288-5096